Bronx Central Americans Celebrate Their Independence

By Lennin Reyes

Bronx Journal Reporter

This month, several Central American nations celebrate their independence. Bronx Central Americans filled Southern Boulevard and Crotona Park with a sea of blue and white and plenty of punta.

Hondurans, Salvadorians, Guatemalans, Costa Ricans, and Nicaraguans celebrated their 191st independence with the 16th annual Bronx Central American parade and festival, which ran from Southern Boulevard and East Tremont Avenue to Boston Road and Charlotte Street.

“You get to see family that you haven’t seen in a long time,” parade queen Olga Alvarez said. “You get to enjoy our music, our culture and our food.”

Participants said they hope to see the parade, and the celebration of Central American culture, continue for years to come. “We have our little kids here because we want to keep the tradition going,” Adela Guity, from the Pro-Mejoramiento de Sambo Creek organization, said.

Upon the end of the parade, participants marched towards Crotona Park for the post-parade festival. There, attorney Martin Munitz, one of the parade’s primary sponsors, addressed members of the press. “We have too much hate, anger, ignorance, hostility toward the immigrant population,” he said. “We need the press to stand up and take a stand on behalf of those whose voices aren’t being heard.”